Subtitle

The use of subtitles (i.e. secondary, or additional titles) to the name of a theatrical work is as old as theatre itself, particularly prevalent in comic writing.

To take a 19th century example: The Cockney's Trip to Corsica, The Cockney in Corsica, A Cockney in Corsica. These titles have also been used as main titles, at times with A Thumping Legacy as the subtitle. This flexible usage is found not only in England, but also in America and the colonies during the 19th century, notably so in New Zealand and South Africa.

A Thumping Legacy by John Maddison Morton (1811–1891)[1] was originally performed (and published) with this title alone, but in Leeds later in the same year bore the additional subtitle of The Cockney's Trip to Corsica (and in other cases The Cockney in Corsica and A Cockney in Corsica). All these titles have also been used as main titles, at times with A Thumping Legacy as the subtitle.

This flexible usage is found not only in England, but also in America and the colonies, particularly noticeable during the 19th century, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in particular, as can be seen from this encyclopaedia.

The usage declined in the 20th century.

The foregoing is one aspect of the general variety found in the naming of particular theatrical works. Other factors leading to the multiple titles were the lack of copyright laws (e.g. to cover up plagiarism), and the marketing considerations when a play transferred to another country, most notably perhaps to the USA. (This is still true today with regard to novels, films, etc. published in the USA.)